वीरकं लोकवीरेशम् ईशानसदृशद्युतिम् यक्षकुङ्कुमकिञ्जल्कपुञ्जपिङ्गजटासटम्
A heroic figure, lord of the heroes of the world, radiant like Īśāna, with tawny matted locks dusted with the pollen of yakṣa saffron.
वेत्रपाणिनम् अव्यग्रम् उग्रभोगीन्द्रभूषणम् ततो निमीलितोन्निद्रपद्मपत्राभलोचनम्
Holding a staff in hand, undisturbed, adorned with the ornaments of a fierce serpent king, his eyes closed like lotus petals in sleep.
प्रेक्षमाणमृजुस्थानं नासिकाग्रं सुलोचनैः श्रवस्तरससिंहेन्द्रचर्मलम्बोत्तरीयकम्
Gazing steadily at the tip of his nose with beautiful eyes, draped in an upper garment of lion and elephant skin from the forests of Śrāvastī.
श्रवणाहिफलन्मुक्तनिःश्वासानलपिङ्गलम् प्रेङ्खत्कपालपर्यन्ततुम्बिलम्बिजटाचयम्
With ears adorned by the hoods of serpents, his breath glowing like fire, his matted locks swinging, hung with skulls at their ends.
कृतवासुकिपर्यङ्कनाभिमूलनिवेशितम् ब्रह्माञ्जलिस्थपुच्छाग्रनिबद्धोरगभूषणम्
Reclining with Vāsuki as his couch, his navel as the center, adorned with a serpent whose tail-tip was held in Brahmā's joined palms.
ददर्श शंकरं कामः क्रमप्राप्तान्तिकं शनैः ततो भ्रमरझङ्कारमालम्बिद्रुमसानुकम्
Kāma beheld Śaṅkara, having gradually drawn near; then, amidst the humming of bees, he approached the wooded slope.
प्रविष्टः कर्णरन्ध्रेण भवस्य मदनो मनः शंकरस्तमथाकर्ण्य मधुरं मदनाश्रयम्
Madana entered the mind of Bhava through the opening of his ear; and Śaṅkara, hearing that sweet, love-laden sound—
सस्मार दक्षदुहितारं दयितां रक्तमानसः ततः सा तस्य शनकैस् तिरोभूयातिनिर्मला
Remembered Dakṣa's daughter, his beloved, his heart inflamed with passion; then she, pure and radiant, gradually disappeared from his sight.
समाधिभावना तस्थौ लक्ष्यप्रत्यक्षरूपिणी ततस्तन्मयतां यातः प्रत्यूहापिहिताशयः
She remained absorbed in meditation, appearing as the very object of concentration; then, her mind, obstructed by hindrances, became wholly identified with that focus.
वशित्वेन बुबोधेशो विकृतिं मदनात्मिकाम् ईषत्कोपसमाविष्टो धैर्यमालम्ब्य धूर्जटिः
By mastery, the Lord perceived the distortion born of desire; slightly filled with anger, the steadfast Dhūrjaṭi composed himself.
निरासे मदनस्थित्या योगमायासमाव्रतः स तया माययाविष्टो जज्वाल मदनस्ततः
In the absence of hope, with desire persisting, enveloped by yogic illusion, he was seized by that very illusion, and thus the fire of desire blazed forth.
इच्छाशरीरो दुर्जेयो रोषदोषमहाश्रयः हृदयान्निर्गतः सो ऽथ वासनाव्यसनात्मकः
Desire, embodied by will, hard to subdue, the great seat of anger and fault, then emerged from the heart, consisting of the affliction of longing.
बहिःस्थलं समालम्ब्य ह्य् उपतस्थौ झषध्वजः अनुयातो ऽथ हृद्येन मित्रेण मधुना सह
Taking up a place outside, the Fish-bannered One approached, accompanied by his friend residing in the heart, together with Madhu.
सहकारतरौ दृष्ट्वा मृदुमारुतनिर्धुतम् स्तबकं मदनो रम्यं हरवक्षसि सत्वरम्
Seeing a cluster of mango blossoms gently shaken by the soft wind, Madana swiftly delighted in the beauty upon Hara's chest.
मुमोच मोहनं नाम मार्गणं मकरध्वजः शिवस्य हृदये शुद्धे नाशशाली महाशरः
The Makara-bannered One released the bewildering arrow named Mohana, the mighty, destructive flower-shaft, into the pure heart of Śiva.
पपात परुषप्रांशुः पुष्पबाणो विमोहनः ततः करणसंदेहो विद्धस्तु हृदये भवः
That harsh, tall, bewildering flower-arrow fell; then, struck in the heart, Bhava experienced confusion of the senses.
बभूव भूधरौपम्यधैर्यो ऽपि मदनोन्मुखः ततः प्रभुत्वाद्भावानां नावेशं समपद्यत
Though his steadfastness was like a mountain, he became inclined toward desire; then, through the power of those feelings, he fell under their sway.
बाह्यं बहु समासाद्य प्रत्यूहप्रसवात्मकम् ततः कोपानलोद्भूतघोरहुङ्कारभीषणे
Having encountered much external disturbance, arising from the proliferation of obstacles, then, from the fire of anger, a terrible, fearsome roar arose.
बभूव वदने नेत्रं तृतीयमनलाकुलम् रुद्रस्य रौद्रवपुषो जगत्संहारभैरवम्
On his face appeared a third, blazing eye, filled with fire—the fierce, world-destroying eye of Rudra in his terrible form.
तदन्तिकस्थे मदने व्यस्फारयत धूर्जटिः तन्नेत्रविस्फुलिङ्गेन क्रोशतां नाकवासिनाम्
As Madana stood nearby, Dhūrjaṭi opened that eye; from its spark, the denizens of heaven cried out.
गमितो भस्मसात्तूर्णं कन्दर्पः कामिदर्पकः स तु तं भस्मसात्कृत्वा हरनेत्रोद्भवो ऽनलः
Kāma, the subduer of lovers' pride, was instantly reduced to ashes; and having incinerated him, the fire born from Hara's eye—
व्यजृम्भत जगद्दग्धुं ज्वालाहुङ्कारघस्मरः ततो भवो जगद्धेतोर् व्यभवज्जातवेदसम्
Expanded, eager to burn the world, with a roar of flames; then, for the sake of the world, Bhava restrained the fire.
सहकारे मधौ चन्द्रे सुमनःसु परेष्वपि भृङ्गेषु कोकिलास्येषु विभागेन स्मरानलम्
In the mango tree, in spring, in the moon, in flowers, in bees, in the voices of cuckoos, in various forms, the fire of love—
स बाह्यान्तरविद्धेन हरेण स्मरमार्गणः रागस्नेहसमिद्धान्तर्धावंस्तीव्रहुताशनः
That arrow of love, pierced within and without by Hari, kindled by passion and affection, rushed within as a fierce, blazing fire.
विभक्तलोकसंक्षोभकरो दुर्वारजृम्भितः सम्प्राप्य स्नेहसंपृक्तं कामिनां हृदयं किल
Unrestrainably swelling, agitating the divided world, it is said to reach the hearts of lovers, saturated with affection.
ज्वलत्यहर्निशं भीमो दुश्चिकित्स्यमुखात्मकः विलोक्य हरहुङ्कारज्वालाभस्मकृतं स्मरम्
Day and night it burns, dreadful, incurable in its nature, seeing love reduced to ashes by the flame of Hara's roar.
विललाप रतिः क्रूरं बन्धुना मधुना सह ततो विलप्य बहुशो मधुना परिसान्त्विता
Rati wailed bitterly together with her cruel husband Madhu; after lamenting greatly, she was consoled by Madhu.
जगाम शरणं देवम् इन्दुमौलिं त्रिलोचनम् भृङ्गानुयातां संगृह्य पुष्पितां सहकारजाम्
Then, gathering a blossoming mango creeper followed by bees, she went for refuge to the god with the crescent moon and three eyes.
लतां पवित्रकस्थाने पाणौ परभृतां सखीम् निर्बध्य तु जटाजूटं कुटिलैर् अलकै रतिः
Rati, taking the flowering creeper as a sacred offering in her hand, bound her companion, the bird-charming creeper, to her matted locks adorned with curling tresses.
उद्ध्वल्य गात्रं शुभ्रेण हृद्येन स्मरभस्मना जानुभ्यामवनीं गत्वा प्रोवाचेन्दुविभूषणम्
Sprinkling her body with the pure, pleasing ashes of love, she fell to the ground on her knees and spoke to the one adorned with the moon.